USDA Extends Registration for Market Facilitation Program

Jan 11, 2019

USDA has extended the deadline for agricultural producers to apply for Market Facilitation Program payments provided by the agency’s trade mitigation program.

The original application deadline had been January 15, 2019. But farmers have been unable to apply for the program since the lapse in federal funding caused the closure of USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices at the end of business on December 28, 2018.

According to a statement issued by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, the application deadline will now be extended for a period of time equal to the number of days FSA were closed once the government shutdown ends.

The Market Facilitation Program has been making payments directly to farmers who have suffered trade damage,” said Perdue. “Using existing funds, we were able to keep FSA offices open as long as possible, but unfortunately had to close them when funding ran out. Farmers who have already applied for the program and certified their 2018 production have continued to receive payments.”

Source : CotttonGrower

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.